Vets of Iraq, Afghan wars to be honored in parade

As a reminder, a parade honoring US military who have served are being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan is planned in Hawley, Saturday, August 18. The public is invited to come and cheer them on. Veterans of these conflicts are also welcome to join in the parade.

By Peter Becker

News Eagle - Hawley, PA

By Peter Becker

Posted Aug. 9, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 9, 2012 at 9:21 AM

By Peter Becker

Posted Aug. 9, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 9, 2012 at 9:21 AM

Hawley, Pa.

As a reminder, a parade honoring US military who have served are being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan is planned in Hawley, Saturday, August 18. The public is invited to come and cheer them on. Veterans of these conflicts are also welcome to join in the parade.

Parade lineup is at 11 a.m. at the Queen of Peace Church parking lot on the top of Church Street at Wangum Avenue. The parade starts at 12 noon and heads down Church Street, ending at the Hawley American Legion Post 311, at Church Street and Penn Avenue.

Bagpipers will march, and County and Borough officials have been invited. Two “Gold Star” mothers will be honored, riding in a car- mothers of Sgt. Paul Sweeney of Lakeville, killed in Afghanistan in 2003, and Sgt. Jacob Beisel of Lackawaxen, killed in Iraq in 2006. University of Scranton ROTC cadre members are also participating.

PA National Guard soldiers from Company A 1st Battalion (mech), 109th Infantry in Honesdale, who are set to deploy to Afghanistan in the fall, have been invited to join the parade.

The parade is being coordinated by the Post 311 Auxiliary. President Mary Jane Graf states that a picnic will follow for the veterans and military and their families, at the Post, as well as anyone joining in. A section of Church Street between Penn and Main is to be closed down for this purpose.

Graf stated that these veterans and active duty mlitary are being honored to remind them they are not forgotten. She noted that unlike in past wars, the troops do not return in large groups and receive parades. Their call to duty is often missed by the media, she added. Graf expressed thanks to everyone who is helping with the parade and picnic, and invited the public to come out and thank those who served or do serve in uniform.

For more information, contact Post 311 Auxiliary by e-mail at thankyouiav@yahoo.com.